Friendship Manor community room gets facelift from local reality group

May 13—Every year on the second Thursday in May, about 180, 000 Keller Williams' real estate team members worldwide participate in Red Day, a day set aside to renew, energize and donate within the communities they serve by helping out and volunteering.

In Morgantown, The Hook Team of Keller Williams, with help from local contractor DHI — Davis Home Inspection, chose to brighten up the lives of local seniors living at Friendship Manor on Van Voorhis Rd.

"We like to do a worthy cause, " said Cheryl Hook, leader of The Hook Team, who in the past worked with causes like the Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center and the Shack Neighborhood House.

Joined by fellow Hook Team members Shawna Cross, Bethany Bishop and Brian Haufe, who also serves as president of the Morgantown Board of Realtors, the group gave the Friendship Manor community room a fresh coat of paint with help from Jeff and Mary Ann Davis of DHI.

D.J. Frazonic of Frazonic Entertainment Services was also there keeping the fun level elevated with music.

Joyce Troshak, manager at Friendship Manor, said the update to the community room means so much to the residents.

"It's a go-to room for them, " Troshak said. "Most of them are bound here, they don't drive and family doesn't pick them up a lot, so it means a lot for them to get out of their space and have some different scenery."

Troshak said the room is used for a variety of activities from puzzles and coloring to social gatherings and was even used for church services before COVID.

"They were in awe, " Troshak said of the residents' reactions when they saw the finished room. "Most of them said 'Oh my golly, I can't believe they did that for us.'"

"It's like a fresh new start on something, " Troshak said. "They don't get much change, so something like this is like a new beginning for them."

One tenant told Troshak she had lived there for 14 years and that was the first time the color had been changed in that room of the 52-year-old building.

"She was ready for it, " said Troshak.